This Quick and Easy Homemade Italian Sloppy Joes Recipe is one of my favorite easy weeknight meals for feeding the whole family. Think classic sloppy joes with an Italian twist, loaded with savory beef, marinara sauce, creamy burrata, fresh basil, and crispy garlic bread buns.
Why You'll Love It
As a professional chef, I love playing with familiar recipes and giving them a different flavor without making dinner more complicated. As a mom cooking for two picky kids, I also know there is a very fine line between "fun new dinner" and "absolutely not."
These easy Italian sloppy joes (sometimes also known as messy giuseppes) nail that balance.
They're basically a cross between a more traditional sloppy joe recipe and a really good Italian meat sauce sandwich. I start with simple ingredients like lean ground beef, carrots, garlic cloves, marinara sauce, and a touch of brown sugar.
The sloppy joe mixture simmers over low heat until it's rich, saucy, and packed with Italian flavors. Meanwhile, the hamburger bun gets the garlic bread treatment with olive oil and garlic salt. You could also start it in the pan and move it over to a crock pot and simmer on low for a few hours. If you're a crockpot person, you'll love these slow cooker italian sloppy joes even more!
Once those garlic buns are golden brown, they're piled high with the meat mixture. Torn burrata, fresh basil, flaky salt, and black pepper go right on top.
It's messy, cheesy, comforting, and completely delicious. It's such a delicious twist for busy weeknights when you don't want to put a lot of effort into dinner.
And unlike some Italian-style sloppy joes, you don't need tomato paste, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, or a million Italian herbs. It's a great weeknight meal with tons of savory flavor and minimal cooking time. So easy!
My kids can keep theirs simple (regular low moisture mozzarella), while I load mine with all the good stuff (hello burrata!). Oh and did I mention that this is a great option for meal prep if you're into it?! So let's get to it, shall we?!
Ingredients & Substitutions
One reason this easy dinner recipe works so well is that everything can be found at a regular grocery store. I've also included plenty of swaps for different proteins, cheeses, and breads.
- Ground beef: I use one pound of ground beef for a rich, classic flavor. Ground turkey, ground chicken, turkey sausage, or Italian sausage are all great options. You could also use a combination of ground beef and sausage if you're into a combination of meats.
- Olive oil: A tablespoon of olive oil gets the vegetables started, with more for the buns. Any neutral cooking oil works in a pinch.
- Carrots: Finely diced carrots add subtle sweetness and disappear into the meat sauce. Red bell pepper, green bell peppers, or other finely diced vegetables are great additions.
- Garlic cloves: Fresh garlic gives the sloppy joe sauce tons of savory flavor. Garlic powder can work if you don't have fresh garlic.
- Marinara sauce: Use your favorite marinara sauce to keep things easy. Your favorite tomato sauce, spaghetti sauce, or a homemade sauce made with crushed tomatoes also works.
- Brown sugar: Just a little brown sugar balances the acidity of the tomato sauce. You can leave it out if your marinara is already sweet.
- Sandwich buns: I love a soft hamburger bun because it soaks up the sloppy joe mixture without falling apart. Italian bread, French bread, or thick garlic toast are also delicious.
- Garlic salt: This turns an everyday bun into crispy garlic bread. You can substitute garlic powder and kosher salt.
- Burrata: Creamy burrata makes these sloppy Giuseppes feel extra special. Mozzarella cheese, shredded mozzarella, melty mozzarella, or provolone cheese are easy substitutes.
- Fresh basil: Fresh basil adds brightness and cuts through the richness. Fresh parsley or a mixture of fresh herbs can work, too.
- Kosher salt and black pepper: Season throughout the cooking process for the best flavor. Use your favorite salt and pepper as needed.
- Optional Additions: Italian Seasoning, Balsamic vinegar, green peppers, yellow onion - whatever you like to add to make your bolognese style sauce more you!
How to Make Italian Sloppy Joes
These easy Italian sloppy joes come together in one large skillet, plus a sheet pan for those crispy garlic buns.
- Cook the carrots and garlic: Add the olive oil to a large heavy-bottomed skillet or large pot over medium heat. Add the carrots, garlic cloves, and a hefty pinch of kosher salt.
- Soften the vegetables: Cook for 4-6 minutes, stirring often. You want the carrots tender and the garlic fragrant without letting it burn.
- Brown the beef: Add the ground beef and another hefty pinch of salt. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to immediately break the beef into small pieces.
- Cook it through: Continue cooking until the beef is browned and completely cooked through. Always check ground beef with a meat thermometer to ensure it has reached a safe internal temperature.
- Remove excess grease: Carefully drain the skillet or blot away any extra grease.
- Add the sauce: Stir in the marinara sauce and brown sugar. Reduce to low heat and let the sloppy joe mixture simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Make the garlic bread buns: While the meat simmers, turn on your broiler. Arrange the buns cut-side up on a sheet pan.
- Toast the buns: Drizzle the buns generously with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic salt. Broil for 1-3 minutes until they're golden brown and crisp.
- Assemble: Spoon the hot sloppy joe mixture over each bottom bun. Top with torn burrata, flaky salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and fresh basil.
- Serve: Add the top bun and serve immediately. Potato chips, a simple salad, or roasted vegetables are all great additions.
- Save: Store leftover meat mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You could also freeze them in a freezer safe container for up to three months. When ready, reheat over low heat with a little water or extra marinara sauce if needed.
What to Pair It With
Since these Italian-style sloppy joes are rich, cheesy, and saucy, I like keeping the sides pretty simple. They're a family favorite with salad, roasted vegetables, or something fresh and crunchy.
For an easy weeknight dinner, pair them with a simple Caesar salad or roasted broccoli or sauteed spinach. You could even skip the hamburger bun and spoon the meat sauce over spaghetti squash for a different spin.
And if you're feeding a crowd, make a double batch of the sloppy joe mixture. Set out toasted Italian bread, burrata, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, fresh herbs, and red pepper flakes so everyone can build their own. It's such a fun and easy dinner - especially if you're tailgating outside your kids soccer game!It's one of those easy dinner ideas that feels way more exciting than the amount of work involved.
For more tasty recipes to try, try one of these related recipes:
- Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese with Potato Chips
- Bolognese Grilled Cheese with Provolone, Mozzarella + Basil on Parmesan Crusted Bread
- The Sloppy P - Chili Cheese Dog Grilled Cheese with Caramelized Onions on Wonder Bread
- Prosciutto & Burrata Sandwich Sliders with Fig Jam & Arugula
- Italian Sausage Sandwich with Peppers, Onions & Burrata
Recipe
Quick and Easy Homemade Italian Sloppy Joes Recipe
Equipment
- Heavy Bottomed Pot
- Meat Spatula
- Cutting Boards
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground beef
- 2 tablespoon Olive oil plus more for the buns
- ½ cup Finely diced carrots
- 5 clobes Garlic minced
- 2 cups Marinara sauce
- ½ teaspoon Brown sugar
- 4 6" inch Sandwich buns split
- ½ teaspoon Garlic salt
- 2 balls Burrata torn
- 4 large Basil leaves thinly sliced
- Kosher salt
- Freshly cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat.
- Once hot, add the carrots, garlic, and a hefty pinch of kosher salt.
- Cook for 4-6 minutes, stirring often, until the carrots are tender and the garlic is fragrant.
- Add the ground beef along with another hefty pinch of kosher salt.
- Break the meat into very small crumbles with a wooden spoon or spatula as it cooks.
- Once the beef is browned and cooked through, check it with a meat thermometer for doneness.
- Carefully drain or blot away any excess grease.
- Stir in the marinara sauce and brown sugar.
- Reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, turn on the broiler and arrange the buns cut-side up on a sheet pan.
- Drizzle the cut sides generously with olive oil and sprinkle evenly with garlic salt.
- Broil for 1-3 minutes, watching closely, until golden brown and crisp.
- Spoon the Italian sloppy joe mixture onto the bottom buns.
- Top each sandwich with torn burrata, flaky salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and sliced fresh basil.
- Add the top bun and serve immediately while the burrata is perfectly creamy.
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